“The DFL-controlled Minnesota House passed legislation creating a health insurance exchange largely on a party line vote. More than a million Minnesotans are expected to use the online gateway to comparison shop and enroll in health care coverage.”

Audit says Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, Medica, HealthPartners and U-Care, collectively, were overpaid $162 million over the past eight years. That overpayment was funded by Minnesota taxpayers.

Under the proposed Senate bill, eligible Minnesota voters could begin casting their ballots 15 days before Election Day. and allow voting by absentee ballot without having to explain why they can’t vote in person in their precinct on Election Day.

“This legislative session could be a good one for Minneapolis and St. Paul: With DFLers in control at the Capitol, Minnesota’s two largest cities see opportunities to get more state money for their local priorities.”

“Fearing that broader restrictions on guns won’t pass, top Minnesota lawmakers on Monday tacked toward new legislation that avoids expanding background checks as their best bet to tighten the state’s gun laws.”

“The federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement rents bed space in five county jails to house immigrant detainees but ICE says it’s reducing the number of detainees held in custody due to uncertainty with the federal budget situation.”

“In 2020, Minnesotans older than 65 years will be a bigger share of the state population than those between 5 and 17 years old, creating future state budget pressures. And more retirees mean fewer income tax dollars will be coming in.”

Senate committee considers film making fund (MPR News)

A Minnesota state Senate committee Monday approved a $10 million fund to boost film making in the state. The bill, a revival of a program that spurred film making more than a decade ago, would provide rebates for up to 25 percent of production costs.

Groups spent $65 million to lobby Gov. Dayton’s administration, the Legislature and metropolitan units of government in 2011, according to a new report from the Minnesota Campaign Finance Board.

The top five in lobbying spending were: Xcel Energy ($2.3 million), The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce ($2 million), the Minnesota Business Partnership ($980,000), Alliant Energy ($960,000) and the Minneapolis Radiation Oncology Physicians ($900,000), the report said.

Other big spenders included the Minnesota Vikings ($840,000), The MN AFL-CIO ($820,000), the Coalition of MN Businesses ($748,000) and the DFL-leaning group The Alliance for a Better Minnesota ($670,000). — Tom Scheck